Alloa 3-2 Ross County: Match Report

26 July 2016 09:34

Holders Ross County are out of the Scottish League Cup after falling to defeat at Alloa at a rain-sodden Indodrill stadium.

The home made the better of the conditions and led 2-0 inside 11 minutes with strikes from Jordan Kirkpatrick and Jon Robertson.

But the holders responded emphatically and took only 10 minutes to draw level; Alex Schalk powering in County's second after Brian Graham had reduced the arrears.

The visitors looked the more likely to find a winner but Calum Waters' strike 18 minutes from time saw County fall at the first hurdle.

Heavy rain before kick-off made conditions on Alloa's newly-laid artificial surface difficult, and it was the home side who adjusted better in the opening stages.

The fans barely had time to take their seats when Alloa took the lead with the first chance of the game. Greig Spence, in his third spell with the Wasps, teed up fellow striker Kirkpatrick who fired low past Scott Fox in the County goal.

And it got better for Jack Ross' men after 11 minutes. A mistake from Fox played in winger Iain Flannigan, who set up Robertson to slot the ball home.

The holders clawed their way back into the match three minutes later. Winger Michael Gardyne, a constant threat for the visitors, left Graham with the easiest of tap-ins from an inch-perfect cross to start the recovery.

Schalk, County's goal hero in last season's final, restored parity after 21 minutes when he powered home past Neil Parry.

Gardyne then hit the crossbar in an enthralling first half, with both sides coming close to adding to their tally.

The visitors looked the more likely to find a winner in a scrappy second half, but it was a late Waters strike that knocked out their Premiership opponents.